Power outages, flooded basements in Tinley Park

Timothy O'Brien watched his neighbors wade through about "two and a half feet" of water this morning as they tried to leave their homes for work.

O'Brien decided to call off instead and take care of his flooded property on the corner of 179th and Ridgeland.

His front lawn flooded so high that the tips of his horseshoe stakes were barely visible. O'Brien's shed, full of landscaping equipment and paint cans, was under 4 inches of water, and his living room was soaked as well.

"It's always flooding on my corner," O'Brien said, noting that this is the worst it's ever been on his property.

O'Brien said he has, in the past, requested that the village build a retention pond to alleviate his concerns but was told that it wasn't possible.

About 300 Tinley Park residents lost power this morning and at least 20 homeowners reported flooded basements as the storm hitting the Chicagoland region landed in the quiet southwest suburb.

Several roads were closed due to flooding and emergency management personnel have been out since 12:30 last night dealing with the storm, according to Emergency Management Agency Director Pat Carr.

The roads closed around town were the following: On 179th St., between Ridgeland and Highland; on 175th St., west of 88th; Veterans Park west of 76th Ave., and Ridgeland at Oak Forest, according to Carr.

Many ponds were at capacity in the late morning as well.

O'Brien, 56, has lived in the same family home for 53 years. He said he's upset about the flooding and called on the village to "help out the people who pay the freaking taxes"

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